JPS5948215B2 - Goods feeding device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article feeding device, and more particularly to an automatic article feeding device for feeding a single type of article or a group of articles to a processing machine, such as an article packaging machine, with regular intervals between the articles. The present invention relates to an article feeding device.

The feeding device of the present invention is a known type of packaging machine that wraps a single type of item or a group of types of items in a film or the like, cuts and seals the film, and creates packages containing the items individually. This is a feeding device that is used in conjunction. In this type of packaging machine and other processing machines, the items are fed into the machine in a uniformly and precisely spaced condition, and after the items have been wrapped with a film or the like, spacing is created between the items and the It is required to allow the tubes to enter the sealing and cutting tube assembly that individually forms the items into packages within the interval. Prior art packaging machines of the type described above use continuous drive mechanisms to operate feed rolls, sealing bars, cutting devices, etc.

These packaging machines also have an inlet conveyor driven from the drive mechanism described above. The inlet conveyor has a plurality of spaced apart ears for advancing items at predetermined intervals in spaced intervals into the packaging machine and for packaging or otherwise processing the items thus advanced. It has a conveyor. Previously, items had to be manually fed between the ears of the inlet conveyor to ensure that they were properly introduced into the packaging machine. A typical inlet conveyor of the type described above is shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-47044, particularly in FIG. 2 thereof. Place the items to be processed individually without damage between the spaced ears of an inlet conveyor during operation, while ensuring that the items are placed within the spacing between all ears. This is inherently a time-consuming process, and in order to be able to place items within the gap between the ears, a long-stroke entrance conveyor is installed and some workers are placed close to the conveyor. must be placed. According to the invention, instead of the above-mentioned inlet conveyor, there is provided a quick and automatically operating pick-up conveyor, which conveys the goods by means of which they are damaged in order to send them to the processing or packaging machine. The item is properly placed between each ear piece without any problems.

The essential elements of the article feeding device of the present invention are driven from a continuous drive mechanism located within the processing machine, ie the packaging machine, so that perfect synchronization is maintained. According to the present invention, an article feeding device is provided for use in connection with a processing machine that seals and packages articles that are uniformly spaced apart from each other,
Accepts randomly supplied items and transports them downstream,
It has a receiving conveyor that converts the conveyed downstream items into a continuous line of items, the receiving conveyor conveys the downstream line of items to the upstream side of the adjusting conveyor, and the adjusting conveyor transfers the received items to the downstream side. A pick-up conveyor is an article feeding device for conveying uniformly spaced items downstream toward a processing machine, and is arranged between uniformly spaced ears of a pick-up conveyor. A stationary plate placed between the downstream end and the upstream end of the pick-up conveyor to support the first item conveyed onto the stationary plate from the downstream item row on the adjustment conveyor and subsequent items immediately following it. The stationary plate and the adjustment conveyor are driven by a speed controller that is driven in time synchronization with the interval between the ears of the pick-up conveyor that is moving forward, so that when the subsequent item is advanced, the previous item is pushed and the stationary plate is moved. and a speed controller for driving the adjusting conveyor so that the article leaves the downstream edge of the pick-up conveyor and immediately after leaving the article is accommodated between the ears of the pick-up conveyor. It will be done.

Further, according to the present invention, the article feeding device is used in connection with a processing machine that seals and packages articles that are uniformly spaced apart from each other, and receives randomly supplied articles and transports them to the downstream side. , has a receiving conveyor that converts the conveyed downstream items into a continuous line of items, the receiving conveyor conveys the downstream line of items to the upstream side of the adjustment conveyor, and the adjustment conveyor transfers the received items to the downstream side. conveyed to the pick-up conveyor and arranged individually between ears evenly spaced from each other,
A pick-up conveyor is an article feeding device for transporting articles evenly spaced from each other downstream toward the processing machine, and a stationary plate disposed between the downstream end of the conditioning conveyor and the upstream end of the pick-up conveyor. , the stationary plate that supports the first item conveyed from the row of downstream items on the adjustment conveyor onto the stationary plate and the subsequent items immediately following it, and the interval between the ears of the pick-up conveyor while the adjustment conveyor is moving forward. A speed controller that drives in time synchronization with
By advancing the succeeding article, the preceding article is pushed away from the downstream edge of the stationary plate, and the adjusting conveyor is driven so that the article is received between the ears of the pick-up conveyor immediately after leaving the downstream edge of the stationary plate. In an article feeding apparatus having a speed controller, a first variable speed drive and a second variable speed drive are provided, the first variable speed drive driving the processing machine, the pick-up conveyor, and the second variable speed drive; The second variable speed drive operates a clutch brake provided on the regulating conveyor in response to a photoelectric device provided in association with the receiving conveyor detecting the amount of items that are sequentially arranged on the receiving conveyor. There is provided an article transport device operatively characterized in that the optoelectronic device also controls the movement of the first variable speed drive.

Briefly, the article feeding device includes a pick-up conveyor having vertically spaced upright article pushing ears that securely convey the articles in spaced relation to the article receiving conveyor of the packaging machine. have.

As previously mentioned, the pick-up conveyor and other elements of the feeder are used in place of conventional fixed lug artificial conveyors. The article feeder also has a conditioning conveyor that advances the articles over a stationary plate between the conditioning conveyor and the pick-up conveyor to the pick-up conveyor. The conditioning conveyor is driven by an intermittent drive, such as a clutch brake, and like the pick-up conveyor, the conditioning conveyor is driven from or synchronously with the packaging machine's drive mechanism. The conditioning conveyor is driven at a slower linear speed than the pick-up conveyor so that as the pick-up conveyor receives an item from the stationary plate, the item is accelerated relative to the advancing speed of the following item. There is a receiving conveyor upstream of the adjustment conveyor.
The receiving conveyor conveys items from the item supply to the conditioning conveyor such that a row of items is formed in end-to-end abutting relationship on the conditioning conveyor and on the stationary plate.

The article feeding device has a speed controller, by which
The articles are fed by the conditioning conveyor and picked up by the pick-up conveyor without being interfered with by the ears adjacent to the stationary plate, so that they will be picked up anew when the ears are brought upright into the push position. It will not come under the item.

The speed controller has a limit switch that is activated periodically in synchronization with the advancement of the ears on the pick-up conveyor, and the switch is activated each time the pick-up conveyor moves a distance equal to the distance between two adjacent ears. be done. The switches are synchronized so that as the items are picked up by the pick-up conveyor from the stationary plate, the items are picked up without the ears on the conveyor interfering with the items as described above. The controller also includes a photosensitive scanning device that detects the edge of the leading item on the stationary plate, and the adjustment conveyor is brought into abutment by periodic actuation of a switch responsive to the position of the ears on the pick-up conveyor. Advance the first item in the line of items past the stationary plate. The item is then picked up and accelerated by the pick-up conveyor.
When the scanning device senses the edge of the first item in the advancing line of items on the stationary plate, it starts scanning. The device stops the advancement of the item by the conditioning conveyor. The receiving conveyor, which does not have ears, is driven by a variable speed electric motor under the action of a photoelectric device when supplied with articles, so that a dense row of articles in end-to-end abutting relationship is always connected to the adjusting conveyor and the receiving conveyor. It is designed to be provided on a stationary plate. Figure 3 shows an example of the speed at which the article feeding device of the present invention can feed accurately uniformly spaced articles to a packaging machine without damage.

The ears on the pick-up conveyor are approximately 15.2 cm (6 inches) apart and the items are approximately 10 cm (4 inches) apart.
, the feed device can feed the items at a rate of approximately 200 items per minute in the conditions described above. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the scanning device is activated upon sensing the leading edge of the item on the stationary plate, but in other embodiments the scanning device is activated when the leading item is picked up and accelerated by the pick-up conveyor. can also be activated by sensing the rear edge of the item.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a switch actuated in accordance with the position of the lug on the pick-up conveyor is driven synchronously with the pick-up conveyor, and one of the cams on the camshaft is
Rotation represents the movement of the pick-up conveyor by a distance equal to the distance between the ears.

The cam is configured to provide an adjustable rest period. Thus, if the rest period is extended, instead of placing one item between the ears of the pick-up conveyor, two or more items may be placed between each pair of ears. These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred and other embodiments of the invention.

The article feeding apparatus of the present invention will be described in connection with a processing machine for packaging articles individually or in groups, such as in films.

Such processing machines are disclosed in US Pat. No. 2,602,276 and the aforementioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-47044. A common feature of the processing machines to which the article feeder of the invention is compatible is that these machines are equipped with single, uniformly spaced or a group of items that come into contact with each other. 1 to 3 show a feeding device according to the invention for feeding articles to a processing machine, namely a packaging machine w. The receiving end of the packaging machine has a former 10 which receives a packaging film F (FIG. 3) and within which the film is folded around spaced items to form individual packages. It is then sealed and cut. Such packaging machines are known to those skilled in the art and are described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat.
This is shown in the specification of No. 602276 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-47044. The latter shows the drive mechanism of the packaging machine in detail. FIG. 1 shows the main elements of the article feeding device of the present invention.

These elements include a pick-up conveyor PC carrying tippable ears to provide uniform spacing between the items and to reliably feed the items to the packaging machine. Items are supplied to the pick-up conveyor PC by an adjustment conveyor MC that is driven intermittently.
is advanced beyond the stationary plate DP, and the first item from the stationary plate DP is picked up by the pick-up conveyor PC.
The pick-up conveyor PC has a greater linear speed than the conditioning conveyor MC. The receiving conveyor AC receives the supplies and transfers them through the transmission plate TP to the adjustment conveyor M.
Advance to C. The speed of the receiving conveyor AC is adjusted to bring the items into a mutually abutting relationship as shown in FIG. 2 and to convey a tight row of items to the conditioning conveyor MC. The pick-up conveyor PC is driven by the first variable speed drive WVS of the packaging machine W.

The regulating conveyor is connected to a second variable speed drive WVS.
It is driven by a variable speed drive VS. Both conveyors PC, MC therefore operate synchronously with the packaging machine W, but the regulating conveyor MC is operated intermittently by the clutch brake C-B. Clutch brakes of the type used in this invention are known to those skilled in the art, and suitable designs include clutch brake couplings, Model No. TCBC-500, manufactured by Warner Electric Brake and Clutch Co., Beloit, Wis., USA. be. The packaging machine W is operated by a first variable speed drive WV under the control of a photoelectric device.
The optoelectronic device, driven by S, varies the speed of the packaging machine to produce a tight row of items on the conditioning conveyor, as described with respect to FIG. A feature of the invention is that the speed of the feed device can be controlled in a desired manner, in order to achieve this the speed controller is designed as a control unit CBM with a clutch brake control module.

The regulating conveyor MC is provided with a clutch brake C-B, and the movement of the clutch brake C-B is also controlled by the control unit CB.
Controlled by M. By using the clutch brakes C-B, the articles can be fed individually or in groups onto the pick-up conveyor PC without being interfered with by the ears of the pick-up conveyor PC in the area of the stationary plate DP. The speed controller also has an article scanning device SC and a limit switch LS, the limit switch 3 operating synchronously with the pick-up conveyor PC and the scanning device SC. In the form shown, the scanning device SC is of the retroreflective type, such that when the item does not interrupt the scanning device, the light from the scanning device is directed to a reflector, ie, a reflective tape T, on or adjacent to the stationary plate DP. It is therefore reflected by the photoelectric element of the scanning device. Ru. In the preferred form of the invention, the scanner SC is a model MCS-615 reflective scanner manufactured by Warner Electric Brake and Clutch Co., Beloit, Wis., USA. The limit switch LS and the scanning device SC are connected in a control circuit of a speed controller, namely a clutch brake control module CBM, which control circuit alternately connects the clutch brake control module CBM.
- Release the brake by energizing the tarlage of B, or energize the brake and release the clutch. The details of the circuit elements of the modular CBM are not important to the invention. A module suitable for use in the article feeder is commercially available as a model TR4-3 logic module manufactured by Microswitch Armor Electric Division, Minneapolis Honeywell Company, Freeport, Illinois, USA. These modules can be configured to operate in one of two modes. That is, it can be set to operate when the light reflected to the scanning device SC decreases or when the light reflected to the scanning device SC increases. In a first preferred embodiment of the invention,
The modular CBM is configured to operate in light reduction mode. Pickup Conveyor To drive the pickup conveyor, the packaging machine W is equipped with a first variable speed drive WVS having a variable speed handle 12 of construction known to those skilled in the art.

The regulating conveyor MC is driven by a second variable speed drive VS which is connected to the first variable speed drive WVS. The first variable speed drive WVS drives the illustrated mechanism 13 to operate the units within the packaging machine. Furthermore, the first speed change drive device WVS includes chain and sprocket assemblies 14 and 15.
This rotation drives the shaft 16, which in turn drives the sprockets 18, 20 of the side chains 22, 24 of the pick-up conveyor PC. The shaft 16 is rotatably mounted within a framework, which is not shown for clarity of illustration. The side chains 22, 24 of the pick-up conveyor have rotatably mounted ears 26 and an idler sprocket 3 at the inlet end of the conveyor.
0,32 are installed and the sprockets 30,32
Chains 22 and 24 are wound around the . These sprockets are mounted on an idler shaft 34 which is also mounted within the framework. The construction of conveyors with rotatable and tippable lug assemblies is known to those skilled in the art;
The configuration of the ear piece is not important to the invention except when it is erect.

The construction of such a conveyor is illustrated in simple form and is best illustrated in FIG. The lug 26 is L-shaped and is mounted between the side chains 22 and 24 so as to be able to pivot. Each ear piece has a push leg 26a and a weight leg 26
It has b. As shown, when the lug first moves along the upper path of the pick-up conveyor PC, the pusher leg 26a is moved by the weight leg 26b to the lateral chains 22, 24.
is flush with the lower or side chains 22,24. As the ear piece advances along the upward travel of the pick-up conveyor, the weight leg 26b slides along the track 28, which causes the pusher leg 26a to slide toward the rear of items such as items 40A and 40B in FIG. Hold the ears upright so that they can be fried. Before the ear piece 26 reaches the track 28, the push leg 26a
are coplanar or sub-planar with the lateral chains 22, 24 so that the item 40 can slide over the ears, such as item 40C in FIG. The return stroke of the conveyor and the position of the ears on the pick-up conveyor PC around the sprocket are not critical to the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a track 29 is provided to support the push leg 26a of the dog while the weight leg 26b projects upwardly. According to the invention, the operation of the limit switch LS is synchronized with the pick-up conveyor PC, so that the limit switch is actuated each time the pick-up conveyor PC is advanced by a distance equal to the distance between two successive ears on the pick-up conveyor PC. Ru.

Furthermore, the limit switch LS does not operate until the pick-up conveyor receives the item from the stationary plate DP at the appropriate position between the adjacent ears without the ears interfering with the goods, and even when it is activated, the ears remain on the track. The pushing legs 26a of the ear piece are synchronized so as not to collide with the bottom of the item when the item is erected by the lever 28. Functionally, the limit switch LS is actuated by one of the ears.

That is, each time the pick-up conveyor PC advances a distance equal to the spacing between the ears, the ears actuate the switch, so that the switches are properly synchronized. However, in the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the limit switch LS is actuated by a cam 41 driven synchronously with the pickup conveyor drive mechanism. Cam 41 is actuated by sprocket 42 on shaft 16, chain 44, drive sprocket 46, and shaft 48, which is supported as an independent drive shaft on the machine framework (not shown). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first A
As can be seen, cam 41 is an adjustable cam having stationary members or ropes 41A, 41B that can be closed and expanded to increase or decrease the quiescent period of the limit switch.

These ropes are connected by a slot and crank bolt assembly to vary the period of rest of the cam. The rest period may be extended to provide groups of two or more items to the pick-up conveyor PC instead of one item. To facilitate adjustment of control circuit synchronization, limit switch LS is adjustably mounted on plate 52 (FIG. 3) by slot-clamp mounting means (not shown).

Therefore, the switch can be fixed at any position along the mounting plate to finely adjust the synchronous operation of the switch.
Similarly, scanning device SC (FIG. 3) is adjustable on support plate 54 by means of clamp 55 and slots in plate 54. The edge of the item on the stationary plate DP will therefore be detected by the scanning device in a precise position. Adjustment Conveyor As mentioned above, the adjustment conveyor MC is driven by a second variable speed drive VS which is connected to a first variable speed drive WVS.

As a result, the ear piece 26 on the pick-up conveyor PC
The speed of the adjustment conveyor can be adjusted according to the interval. Second
The variable speed drive VS is driven by a chain 60 and sprocket 62 from the first variable speed drive WVS.
The second speed change drive device VS is equipped with a speed change handle 64. The second variable speed drive VS has a sprocket 66 which drives the chain 68 and thus the drive sprocket 70 (FIG. 1) of the shaft 72 of the regulating conveyor MC. In the form shown, the regulating conveyor is mounted around drive sprockets 74, 76 on shaft 72 and around idler sprockets 82, 84 on idler shaft 86.
It has endless chains 78, 80 wrapped around it. Both shafts 72, 86 are rotatably mounted within a framework (not shown) in a conventional manner. The details of the means by which conditioning conveyor MC supports rows R of items 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are not important to the invention. The conveyor may simply have a pair of synchronized chains, or the chains may be connected by connecting rods, or the conveyor may be replaced by a flat belt with a cognate belt drive as known in the art. The function of the regulating conveyor MC is to advance the abutting rows R of articles 40 intermittently under the control of the scanning device SC, the limit switch LS and the clutch brake module CBM.
Receiving Conveyor The function of the receiving conveyor AC is to randomly receive items from a source and transport these items across the transmission plate TP to the conditioning conveyor at an end-to-end abutting speed as shown in FIG. It is to advance on the MC.

As mentioned above, the receiving conveyor is driven by a variable speed electric motor M. The motor has a chain 92 and a sprocket 90 (FIG. 1) that drives a sprocket 94 on a receiving conveyor shaft 96. The shaft 96 has spaced apart drive sprockets 98,100;
Endless chains 102 and 104 are spread over 100. These chains are also wrapped around idler sprockets 106, 108 on idler shafts 110, which are rotatably mounted within a framework (not shown). Receiving conveyor AC shown
According to , the article is supported on rollers 112, the ends of which are supported by lateral chains 102,104. The speed of the packaging machine W is regulated by a photoelectric device, i.e. a photocell, detecting the loading and spacing of the articles 40 on the receiving conveyor, and as described above, a dense row of articles 40 at the delivery end of the receiving conveyor. is maintained. Techniques for forming article abutment rows of this type are known to those skilled in the art and are illustrated in FIG. a pair of electric lights and photocells 114;
114a, 116, 116a, 118, 118a detect the spacing and quantity of items on the conveyor.

These lamps and photocells are connected to a control module, namely a logic module 120, which adjusts the speed of the first variable speed drive WVS to the speed at which said abutment row of articles is delivered. As previously stated, the details of the receiving conveyor AC are not important to the invention as long as it fulfills the purpose described above. ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of the control device.

Control unit, i.e. clutch brake module C
BM is shown in block diagram. This is because the internal circuitry of the module is not important to the invention. In the current state of control technology, once certain desired operating characteristics have been determined by the design engineer, the appropriate module can be selected to perform the desired logic or sequence function. The aforementioned Minneapolis Honeywell module TR4-3 used in the embodiments of the present invention is available as an over-the-counter product or is easily assembled. The control device is powered by AC power lines X,y.

A primary winding 122 of the transformer is connected between the power lines, and one of the two secondary windings 124 powers the beam projector of the retro-reflective scanning device SC, ie the electric light 126. supply The light sensor 128 of the scanning device is connected to the terminal 130,1.
32 to the module CBM. Third
Reflective tape T is also shown in Figure A, and light from lamp 126 will be reflected by the tape to light sensor 128 unless an item interrupts the beam. The module CBM receives power from another secondary winding 134 of a transformer connected to its power terminals 136,138. The module has latch control or input terminals 140, 142 to which a limit switch LS, which is opened by cam 41, is connected. The module has output terminals 144, 146 to which relays, such as mercury switch relays HG, are connected.
The internal operation of the module CBM is such that when the contact of the switch LS is closed, the relay HG is fixed in the on state, that is, in the energized state, and when the contact is opened by the cam 41 as shown in FIG. 3A, the module beam is fixed. It is as if the mercury relay HG is deenergized by being set or unfixed. To power clutch brake C-B, rectifier 147 is connected to AC power lines X, X, by lines 148, 149.
connected between y. The rectifier provides direct current for actuation of the clutch brake. DC positive line 1 from rectifier
50 is connected to a voltage regulating variable resistor 151, and the variable resistor 151 is connected by a line 152 to a movable contact arm 153 of a switch contact HG-1 operated by a relay HG. This is a single pole double throw switch. One fixed contact 154 of the switch energizes an electromagnet 156 that engages the clutch. Another contact 158 of the switch energizes an electromagnet 160 which sets the brake. Both the clutch and brake electromagnets are connected to the DC negative line 162. A spring 164 is shown connected to the movable arm of contact HG-1 to schematically show that the clutch brake is in the engaged, or on-clutch, state when relay HG is deenergized. .

Although the spring does not actually have to be present in the mercury switch HG having contacts HG-1, it is shown as being in the switch relay HG for ease of understanding the mode of operation. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 3A, module C
When BM energizes relay HG, switch contact HG-1
opens clutch contact 154 and closes brake contact 158, releasing the clutch and setting the brake. Relay H
When G is deenergized, arm 153 closes contact 154, thereby releasing the brake and energizing the clutch.
OPERATING MANNER OF THE APPARATUS Having described in detail the article feeding apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operating manner of the apparatus will now be described with reference to FIGS.
A brief explanation will be given in connection with the figure.

In the operating diagrams of Figures 4 to 6, module CB
M is set to operate in "light reduction mode". This means that the scanning device is connected to terminal 1 of the module CBM.
To provide output to 44, 146, the scanning light must first be reflected from the tape T, and then one edge of the item 40 must interrupt the light from the scanning device. This thinning of the reflected light reduces the intensity of the reflected light to the scanning device SC and causes the module CBM to provide output pulses at contacts 144 and 146 when the contacts of limit switch LS are closed. A summary of important operating conditions with respect to the above description is as follows. ◎Figure 4 1 The light reflected from the reflective tape T to the scanning device is reflected by the stationary plate D.
When P is cut off by the leading edge of the advancing item 40B, a light attenuation pulse is provided from the scanning device.

Item 40A, which had been at the top of the adjustment conveyor until just before that, was picked up. The article 40A is captured and accelerated by the conveyor PC, and therefore a gap is formed between the article 40A and the first article 40B of the queue. 2 The contact of the limit switch LS is closed, but is about to be opened by the cam 41.

- When the switch is closed, the internal circuit is internally fixed to the output terminals 144, 146 connected to the relay HG and is responsive to the light reduction pulse signal from the scanning device SC. 3 When a light reduction pulse is received from the scanning device with switch LS closed, relay HG is energized and contacts HG-1
is switched to the position shown in FIG. 4 to release the clutch which energizes the brake electromagnet 160.

4 In the above state, the adjustment conveyor MC stops.

5. As described above, the pick-up conveyor PC accelerates the previous leading article 40A to separate it from the leading article 40B in the article row R ending on the stationary plate DP.

5 Cam 41 is about to open limit switch LS.

) FIG. 5 1 The articles 40A on the pick-up conveyor PC are now properly positioned between adjacent ears 26, the ears on the pick-up conveyor being located at the beginning of the row of articles on the stationary plate DP and the adjustment conveyor. Ready to receive item 40B.

2 Limit switch LS is opened by cam 41.

{The output terminals 144 and 146 of the module CBM are released and the relay HG is deenergized.

4 Scanning device SC has no influence on relay HG.

Light is still being reflected from the lead item 40B,
The scanning device is two-legged, providing a pulse when the light is cut off after being reflected from the tape. In fact, when the contacts of the switch LS are opened by the cam 41, the internal circuitry of the module CBM is such that it does not energize the relay HG even if the scanning device generates an output pulse. } When relay HG is deenergized, contact HG-
1 is displaced from the brake electromagnet 160 to the clutch electromagnet 156, releasing the brake and energizing the clutch.

i When the clutch is engaged, the regulating conveyor MC begins to drive and begins to advance the abutment row R of articles past the stationary plate towards the pick-up conveyor PC.

>> Fig. 6 The cam 41 rotates sufficiently to close the contact of the switch LS again.

To this end, module CBM is configured such that its output terminals 144, 146 to relay HG are conditioned to respond to light reduction pulses from scanning device SC.

3 The previous leading item 40B is now picked up and accelerated by the pick-up conveyor PC, so that item 40B
A gap is created between 0B and the item 40C immediately after it.

4. When the above-mentioned gap between the articles increases, the scanning device SC receives reflected light from the reflective tape T, but this light increase does not provide any light pulses from the scanning device.

This is because the scanning device is operating in light reduction mode. 5 Relay HG remains deenergized and its contacts HG-1 hold regulating conveyor MC on clutch.

6. The row of articles on stationary plate DP and conditioning conveyor MC continues to move forward as before, but it will be recalled that the operating speed of conditioning conveyor is slower than the operating speed of pick-up conveyor PC.

◎Return to the state of FIG. 4 After going through the state described in connection with FIG. 6, the adjustment conveyor MC returns to the scanning device SC as the leading article 40C did, as did the article 40B under the conditions of FIG. The stationary plate DP and the row of items on the adjustment conveyor continue to advance until the light from the stationary plate DP and the adjustment conveyor ceases to flow.

In response to this, a new light reduction pulse is applied from the scanning device to the module CBM. Since limit switch LS is still closed, module CBM energizes terminals 144 and 146 to brake conditioning conveyor MC. As shown in FIG. 6, the pick-up conveyor that previously received item 40B from stationary plate DP continues to increase the gap between item 40B and the first item 40C in the line. Conditioning conveyor MC remains braked or on-brake until pick-up conveyor PC is in the proper position to receive the next item, item 40C. When the pick-up conveyor PC reaches this state, the cam 41 opens the contacts and energizes the clutch to advance the conditioning conveyor, as seen in FIG. 5, so that the items are pushed past the stationary plate. . Ideal Operation Mode FIG. 7 shows an operation mode termed "ideal operation" in which clutch brake C-B is held continuously on-clutch.

Under certain circumstances, ideal operating conditions can be achieved by carefully synchronizing the operation of the limit switches LS and properly adjusting the position of the scanning device SC. It is then theoretically possible for the regulating conveyor MC to remain on-clutch if the lengths of successive articles are uniform and maintained in mutual abutment. This condition can be enforced for at least a continuous quantity of items, and if for some reason the condition is violated, the clutch brake described in connection with Figures 4 to 6 is automatically activated. The feeder then continues to properly feed the items to the processing machine. Requirement 1 for ideal operating mode 1 For example, the item 40B picked up by the pick-up conveyor PC is in an advanced position, and the advanced position is such that a limit switch is activated so that the next leading item 40C on a stationary plate on the same conveyor can be received at any time. 3 is the position when it is open.

2 Adjustment to the speed of pick-up conveyor PC The speed of conveyor MC is such that the leading edge of article 40C interrupts light from scanning device SC while limit switch LS is open.

Under such conditions, a light increase situation as shown in FIG. 6 will not be followed by a light decrease pulse as shown in FIG. 4 while limit switch LS is closed. In the ideal operating state shown in Fig. 7, the switch L
Since scan pulses are received while S is open, there is no output from module terminals 130, 132. 3. Under these conditions, relay HG remains deenergized and the regulating conveyor remains on clutch rather than on brake as seen in FIG.

That is, the conditioning conveyor runs continuously and the articles can be fed onto the pick-up conveyor when it reaches the appropriate position without switching the clutch brake C-B. Although the ideal operating condition may not be maintained continuously, when the ideal operating condition can be maintained, damage to the clutch brake is correspondingly reduced and high-speed operation is possible. Multiple Item Feeding FIG. 8 shows an adjusted operating mode for feeding multiple items to a processing device.

For certain products, particularly those of small size, it may be desirable to package or otherwise process two or more items in a single package. Such a state is shown in FIG. The only difference between the mode of operation of FIG. 8 and that of FIGS. 4-6 described above is that cam 41 is adjusted to increase the rest period during which the contacts of limit switch LS are open. . During this cam rest period, the rope 41A shown in FIG. 1A,
This can be adjusted by widening 41B. As the rest period of cam 41 increases, the contacts of limit switch LS also deenergize relay HG long enough to hold regulating conveyor MC on-line for an extended period of time.
It can be kept open for a sufficient period of time.

During this period, two items such as items 40B1 and 40B2 are placed on the stationary plate DP while the limit switch LS is open.
The data is set to be transmitted from the PC to the pick-up conveyor PC. As previously mentioned, when limit switch LS is open, relay HG is deenergized and the tarlage brake is held on-clutch, regardless of operation of scanning device SC. Even if the scanning device SC scans the article groups 40B1 and 40B2 and the article group 4 as in the situation of FIG.
0C1, 40C2 and then scanning device SC senses the leading edge of article 40C1 as in FIG. 4 and provides a pulse to module CBM. Conveyor MC remains on-line as shown in FIG. OTHER TYPES OF MULTIPLE ARTICLE FEEDING As previously discussed in connection with FIG. The same conditions can be obtained by using an electronic latching type module manufactured by the same company, product number STRlO, in place of the TR4-3 module.

The module provides an output to the relay HG that places the conditioning conveyor MC on-plaque only after receiving a predetermined number of pulses set therein from the scanning device. These pulses occur every time a gap opens between adjacent items in a group of items, but they do not energize relay HG until a predetermined number of pulses are received by the logic module. Also, do not place the adjustment conveyor MC on the brake.

As previously mentioned, when said predetermined number of pulses are received (each pulse representing one of the items in the group), the module energizes relay HG to place regulating conveyor MC on brake, as shown in FIG. As we saw in the example, items are formed into groups. Item feeding by rear edge sensing FIG. 9 shows that instead of detecting the front edge of the first item in the line of items before it is transferred onto the pick-up conveyor PC by the adjustment conveyor, the first item in the line is moved onto the pick-up conveyor When the scanning device is captured by the stationary plate D
A control circuit of the type that senses the trailing edge of the leading item on P is shown.

In this embodiment, the switch LS is connected to the pit up conveyor P.
One drawback is that no action is taken on the position of the first item, such as item 40A in FIG. 9, because the control is not properly activated until actuated by C. After the first item leaves the stationary plate, 40B, 40C
, and other subsequent items are placed under the control of a switch and scanning device which, as previously described, ensures that subsequent items are properly placed on the pick-up conveyor PC. Scanner SC-1 (which may be the same unit as the previously described scanner SC) is set to a light enhancement mode so that it is activated when it detects the trailing edge of the lead item.

With this configuration, the scanning device will only generate pulses after the beam has first been interrupted and reflected from the tape T. In FIG. 9, the first item 40A is picked up by the pick-up conveyor PC, and the item 40A is picked up by the pick-up conveyor PC.
A gap is created between A and the next item 40B on the stationary plate DP.

The scanning device SC-1 is arranged such that under these conditions the light emitted by the lamp of the scanning device is reflected from the tape T towards the scanning device. Since the scanning device is set to operate in light enhancement mode, this reflection provides a pulse at terminals 131, 132. Since the pick-up conveyor has not yet opened the limit switch LS, its contacts are closed and the light-intensified pulse to the module CBM energizes the relay HG and adjusts the control conveyor MC.
Put the brake on. Regardless of the first item 40A, 40B, 40C, and other subsequent items in the queue are properly synchronized. This is because the scanning device will not operate until cam 41 opens and closes limit switch LS again, and the action of limit switch 3 will be similar to that of articles 40B, 40, as described in connection with the operation of the scanning device in the light reduction mode.
This is because the adjusting conveyor MC is restarted at the time when the C, etc. are placed on the pick-up conveyor PC at an appropriate position. While the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be obvious that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims. It is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a feeding device embodying the present invention, [A]
Figure 2 is a route diagram of an adjustable cam that can be used in a control device; Figure 2 is a side view of the inlet section of the receiving conveyor and adjustment conveyor; Figure 3 is a route diagram of the outlet section of the adjustment conveyor, the pick-up conveyor, and part of the packaging machine. Route side view, 3A
FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram of the control circuit; FIGS. 4-6 are line operating diagrams of the preferred embodiment; FIG. 7 is a line operating diagram showing operation under ideal conditioning conditions; and FIG. 8 is a multiple article handling diagram. FIG. 9 is a route operation diagram showing a modified form of the present invention. AC: receiving conveyor, C-B: clutch brake, CBM: control module,
LS...Limit switch, MC...
Adjustment conveyor, PC... Pick-up conveyor, W... Processing (packaging) machine, WVS...
- First variable speed drive device, VS... Second variable speed drive device, 26... Ear piece, 40... Item.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An article feeding device used in conjunction with a processing machine that seals and packages items that are uniformly spaced apart from each other and receives randomly supplied items. and a receiving conveyor that conveys the transported downstream items to a continuous line of items, and the receiving conveyor conveys the downstream line of items to the upstream side of the adjustment conveyor, and the receiving conveyor conveys the downstream items to the upstream side of the adjustment conveyor. A conveyor transports the received items downstream and individually disposes them between uniformly spaced ears of a pickup conveyor, said pickup conveyor directing the uniformly spaced items downstream toward said processing machine. In an article feeding device for conveying goods to a stationary plate, the stationary plate is disposed between the downstream end of the adjustment conveyor MC and the upstream end of the pickup conveyor PC, and the article 40 on the downstream side on the adjustment conveyor is
The stationary plate DP, which supports the first item conveyed onto the stationary plate from the row R and the subsequent item immediately following it, and the adjustment conveyor MC are arranged so that the time interval between the ears of the pickup conveyor that is moving forward is adjusted. By using a speed controller that is driven in synchronization with the speed control device to advance the subsequent item 40C, the immediately preceding item 40B is pushed and separated from the downstream edge of the stationary plate DP, and immediately after leaving the item 40B, the item 40B is transferred to the pickup conveyor. A speed controller for driving the adjustment conveyor MC is provided so as to be accommodated between the ears of the article conveyor. 2. In the article feeding device according to claim 1, the speed controller includes an electromagnetically actuated control unit CBM, and the control unit CBM controls the speed of the pickup conveyor and the downstream edge of the stationary plate DP. The speed of each approaching leading item is monitored, and the drive shaft 72 driving the adjustment conveyor is controlled in time at equal intervals between the leading and trailing ears traveling along the downstream edge of the stationary plate DP. An article feeding device characterized in that it emits a control signal that operates and stops in synchronization with the following. 3. In the article feeding device according to claim 2, the control unit CBM includes an article scanning device SC provided above the center position of the stationary plate DP, a control module, and a limit switch mechanism LS, The article scanning device SC includes a beam projector 126 that emits an optical signal downward toward a reflector T mounted adjacent to the downstream edge of the stationary plate DP, and a light beam projector 126 that emits an optical signal downward toward a reflector T mounted above the stationary plate DP. a light sensor 128 for receiving an optical signal reflected upwardly from the light sensor 128; the control module is connected to the light sensor 128 to detect when the intensity of the light signal reflected toward the light sensor 128 decreases; Receiving control pulses emitted by the light sensor 128, the limit switch mechanism LS receives power from the pickup conveyor, and switches the limit switch mechanism LS every time the pickup conveyor travels a distance equal to the spacing between the ears. The limit switch mechanism has a cam 41 for actuating a switch in the LS, and the limit switch mechanism further includes a clutch brake device C-B attached to the drive shaft 72 of the adjustment conveyor so as to control the shaft 72.
an article feeding device electrically connected to said control module to generate a control pulse greater than a control pulse from said light sensor 128 so as to actuate said article feeder. 4. In the article feeding device according to claim 3, the article scanning device SC is configured such that the leading article is placed on the stationary plate D.
Detecting the edge of the item immediately following the same item away from P;
An article feeding device characterized in that when the cam 41 closes the switch of the limit switch mechanism LS, it energizes the brake of the clutch brake device and deenergizes the clutch of the clutch brake device. 5. The article feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the cam 41 has stationary members 41a and 41b that are adjustable to lengthen or shorten the time during which the limit switch mechanism LS is closed. Item feeding device. 6. In the article feeding device according to claim 5, the limit switch mechanism LS is adjustable so that the operation of the switch can be precisely adjusted, and the article scanning device SC is configured such that the limit switch mechanism LS is adjustable. An article feeding device characterized in that it is adjustable and mounted so that the position of the edge of a preceding article can be precisely recognized. 7 An item feeding device used in connection with a processing machine that seals and packages items that are evenly spaced apart from each other, receives randomly supplied items and transports them to the downstream side. a receiving conveyor that forms a continuous line of items on the side; the receiving conveyor conveys the downstream line of items upstream of a conditioning conveyor; and the conditioning conveyor conveys the received items downstream. the pick-up conveyor being an article feeder for conveying uniformly spaced-apart articles downstream toward the processing machine;
A stationary plate disposed between the downstream end of the adjustment conveyor MC and the upstream end of the pick-up conveyor PC, and a stationary plate arranged to accommodate the top of the items 40 conveyed from the row R of downstream items 40 on the adjustment conveyor onto the stationary plate. A stationary plate DP that supports the article and the subsequent article immediately following it, and the adjustment conveyor MC,
The speed controller is driven in time synchronization with the interval between the ears of the pickup conveyor that is moving forward, and by advancing the subsequent item 40C, the immediately preceding item 40B is pushed and the item 40B is pushed downstream of the stationary plate DP. A first variable speed drive WVS in an article feeding device having a speed controller for driving the adjusting conveyor so that the article 40B is separated from the edge and immediately after leaving the edge is received between the ears of the pickup conveyor. and a second variable speed drive device VS, the first
The variable speed drive device WVS drives the processing machine, the pickup conveyor PC, and the second variable speed drive device VS, and the second variable speed drive device VS drives the receiving conveyor A.
A photoelectric device provided in connection with C is connected to the receiving conveyor A.
In response to detecting the amount of articles arranged in succession on C, a clutch brake C-B provided on the regulating conveyor MC is actuated, and the photoelectric device controls the movement of the first variable speed drive. An article feeding device characterized in that it also controls. 8. In the article feeding device according to claim 7, the speed control device includes a clutch brake control unit C.
BM, the control unit monitors the speed of the pick-up conveyor and the speed of each leading item approaching the downstream edge of the stationary plate DP, and controls the drive shaft 72 driving the adjustment conveyor from the stationary plate DP to the stationary plate DP. An article feeding device characterized in that it emits a control signal for driving and stopping in time synchronization with the interval between the leading edge and the trailing edge moving along the downstream edge of the plate DP. 9. In the article feeding device according to claim 8, the control unit CBM includes an article scanning device SC, a control module, and a limit switch mechanism LS provided above the center position of the stationary plate DP, and The article scanning device SC includes a beam projector 126 that emits an optical signal downward toward a reflector T mounted adjacent to the downstream edge of the stationary plate DP, and a light beam projector 126 that emits an optical signal downward toward a reflector T mounted above the stationary plate DP. a light sensor 128 for receiving a light signal reflected upwardly from the light sensor 128; the control module is connected to the light sensor 128 to reduce the intensity of the light signal reflected toward the light sensor 128; do. and receiving a control pulse emitted by the light sensor 128,
The limit switch mechanism LS has a cam 41 that receives power from the pickup conveyor and operates a switch in the limit switch mechanism LS each time the pickup conveyor travels a distance equal to the distance between the ear pieces, and further The limit switch mechanism is electrically connected to the control module to operate the clutch brake C-B attached to the shaft 72 to control the drive shaft 72 of the regulating conveyor. vessel 12
An article feeding device characterized in that it generates a control pulse larger than the control pulse from 8. 10 In the article feeding device according to claim 9, the article scanning device SC detects the edge of the article immediately following the leading article when it leaves the stationary plate DP, and cam 41
An article feeding device characterized in that when a switch of the limit switch mechanism LS is closed, a brake of the clutch brake is energized and a clutch of the clutch brake is deenergized. 11. The article feeding device according to claim 9, wherein the cam 41 has stationary members 41a and 41b that can be adjusted to lengthen or shorten the time during which the limit switch mechanism LS is closed. Item feeding device. 12. In the article feeding device according to claim 11, the limit switch mechanism LS is adjustable so that the operation of the switch can be precisely adjusted, and the article scanning device SC is provided with the limit switch mechanism LS. An article feeding device characterized in that it is adjustable and mounted so that the position of the edge of a preceding article can be precisely recognized.